Are you unsure about which console or game to give for Christmas to your offspring, your great nephew or your grandchildren? It all depends on your age: not all consoles and games are suitable. We explain everything to you, follow the guide!
This is the big question that many parents ask themselves: which console to give their child at Christmas time? If budget is not an issue, then it will only depend on the age of your offspring and their tastes. A games console is chosen above all based on its games library.
In addition, you do not have to limit yourself to the latest generation consoles (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S). You can definitely opt for a second-hand console and turn to older consoles such as the PS4, the Xbox One, or the Nintendo 3DS.
The time is right to buy a console in anticipation of Christmas: Black Friday promotions are starting and will be in full swing on the last Friday of the month. An opportunity to do great business.
Also find our guide to the best consoles of the moment for a slightly broader vision of the issue.
Here we have made a selection of the consoles and games most suitable for young people. You will also find some good advice for getting to grips with your child’s first console:
What are the best games and consoles to give before 12 years old?
For the youngest, the most recommended consoles are undoubtedly those of Nintendo, in particular thanks to their game library adapted to the youngest. Furthermore, although it is possible for a child to have their own console, it is strongly recommended not to give them completely free access to it. A games console is indeed another screen.
A Nintendo 3DS
For the youngest, a Nintendo 3DS family can be a good idea: this allows access to all kinds of video games, the catalog being plethoric. The small portable games console was released in several variations, first with the classic 3DS, then the New 3DS and the New 3DS XL, with a larger screen.
Online, on Amazon, BackMarket or even Rakuten, the classic 3DS costs around 100 euros, the New model more around 150 euros. You can find it at a lower cost in physical stores: among the brands where you can find them second-hand, we will mention Micromania and EasyCash, where they will be the least expensive (between 60 and 90 euros). As always with second-hand products, also take a look at the ads available around you on Le Bon Coin.
The Nintendo Switch family
The Switch Lite is also an excellent option (from 7 to 8 years old). It can be your child’s personal console. Only portable, with a smaller screen, and less expensive, it is available in several very nice colors.
But we advise you, if you or the whole family are interested and want to play together, to instead take a Switch OLED, the most advanced model. Thanks to its hybrid nature, it can be connected to the television and will be the family living room console. Each member of the family can, however, have their own profile and dedicated parts.
Need more details? Visit our comparison file to find out which Switch model to choose.
The Nintendo catalog is particularly rich and relevant for children. The Switch being a family console, there are excellent video games, which they can even play alone.
The best Switch games for children:
As well as multiplayer games suitable for all ages, to play with the family:
Note that some big Nintendo titles are rated PEGI 12 — such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Or Super Smash Bros Ultimate — or even in PEGI 16 like Bayonetta 3. They will therefore be suitable for adolescents.
Which console should you give to young people over 12 years old?
From 12 years old, it is possible to move on to more mature video game catalogs. So, we could think about offering a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Series From 16 or 17 years old, a PS5 or an Xbox Series can be personal for a teenager.
The important point actually concerns the games, rather than the console: look carefully at the titles you offer, many of them are not recommended for under 16, or even 18 year olds.
Xbox Series X and S
The Xbox Series X and its slightly less powerful little sister, the Series S, are Microsoft’s latest generation consoles. Released in 2020, they are the PS5’s big competitors.
In addition, these two consoles have a major advantage: the Xbox Game Pass. Thanks to this subscription, you have access to a considerable catalog of games. As long as you are a subscriber, you can play any title there, locally or in cloud gaming. To help you see things more clearly, we have a file to find out everything about this gaming subscription.
The Xbox Series has a few exclusives (also present on PC) such as:
Otherwise, of course, you will find all the biggest games of the moment: Starfield, Street Fighter 6, Diablo 4 (PEGI 18), Overwatch 2 (free-to-play)), FIFA 23, Gotham Knights (PEGI 16)…
The PlayStation 5
The PS5, worthy successor to the PS4, is undoubtedly the most powerful console next-genthe one intended for demanding players. It will be suitable for adults and teenagers who are already grown up. Previously difficult to find in stores, it is now much better distributed and is now offered under a new model, the PS5 Slim, which replaces the original model.
The PS5 has nevertheless undergone an increase in price, putting it at 550 euros, just like the Xbox Series X. It is also available in a digital version, without a disc reader.
It has several exclusive titles:
Please note, several of these titles are rated PEGI 18.
Also note that the majority of these games are also available on PS4, as well as PC. It may therefore be interesting to invest in a PS4 Pro to play a few exclusives that interest your teenager. Look at resale sites like Le Bon Coin or second-hand stores like Easycash. You can find the PS4 Pro there with some games for around 250 euros.
Choosing your child’s console: everything you need to know
How old to get your first games console?
It will be necessary to gauge this based on your child and their maturity, but we can still give you some advice. Overall, we recommend investing first in a console for the whole family, that is to say that it will not only belong to your child, and that you will be able to manage its access and the time spent on it. The Nintendo Switch is ideal for this function.
A reminder of the recommendations regarding screens and their use by children is always welcome:
- No games console before at least 6 years old
- Up to 8 years old, no more than 30 minutes of screen time per day
- No screen before bed
- No screen in the child’s room
Also remember that video games can sometimes lead to a form of addiction. Rarely, of course, but it can happen. And the adults who spent several hours a day in a row decorating their island on Animal Crossing during confinement will not be able to say the opposite…
There is an official system: the PEGI ranking. It consists of two logos, shown on the cover of all video games:
- The colorful logo indicates the minimum age of the player
- The black and white logo indicates the type of content (e.g. violent or offensive content)
This is a broad classification, which should not necessarily be applied without thinking. For example, Mario Kart 8 is rated PEGI 3: it does not actually contain any problematic content. This does not mean, however, that a child of 3 or 4 years old could play it, mainly because he or she would be incapable of managing the controls, which require good fine motor skills.
Finally, we can only advise you to test the game yourself before putting it in the hands of your child and be sure to make the right choice.
Parental controls on console
All game consoles have a parental control application. The latter makes it possible in particular to restrict access to e-shop payments. As a parent, it is essential to configure this before giving a controller to your child.
For more information, here are the explanations on how parental controls work according to the different consoles:
Can my child try virtual reality?
Overall, all virtual reality headsets (HTC Vive, Oculus Quest, etc.) are not recommended for children under 13, 12 for PS VR.
There are two reasons to be hesitant about a child using a VR headset. The first concerns health issues. When you put on a VR headset, you find yourself with screens stuck just centimeters from your retina. This logically requires an additional accommodation effort. For a child, whose eyes are still developing, this cannot be good. Not to mention that some VR experiences can put a strain on the inner ear. When we see the effect that wearing a helmet can have on many adults (headaches, nausea, etc.) we legitimately ask ourselves the question of putting it on the head of a little one.
Second point: the games or the experience that you would give the child. Wearing a VR headset means finding yourself totally immersed in another world. However, for a child, it may be more complicated than for an adult to differentiate between reality and virtuality. So, an experience that might seem harmless to you, as an adult, could well be very frightening to a child.
Let’s take the example of basic scuba diving, a passive experience, offered on VR game stores. It will appear innocuous — to you. But won’t your 7 or 8 year old child be frightened when a shark or a huge whale passes close to him? Think about it.
